KMA "Shocked and Angry at Crimes Against Medical Professionals... Can No Longer Be Tolerated"

Condemnation of the Arson Incident at Busan National University Hospital Emergency Room
"Urgent Need for Effective Punishment and Support Measures to Prevent Recurrence"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the 24th, an incident occurred at the emergency room of Busan National University Hospital where a man in his 60s, intoxicated, attempted arson out of dissatisfaction with the medical procedure. The medical community is expressing outrage and condemnation. As crimes against medical personnel are becoming more serious, there are also demands for measures to prevent recurrence.

The Korean Medical Association issued a statement on the 27th, saying, "We cannot contain our shock and anger over the deliberate arson incident that occurred in the emergency room, a public place where patients transported in emergency situations receive treatment and the hospital's most critical area."

The association particularly pointed out that the emergency room contains explosive and flammable materials such as oxygen supply devices used to treat critically ill patients, and is usually located on the first floor of the hospital, making it highly vulnerable to large-scale disasters.

The association stated, "This incident represents a serious threat to medical personnel who are committed to treating the lives and health of the public, and at the same time, it endangered the lives of an unspecified number of people including emergency room patients. It clearly shows that violent crimes such as violence and arson against medical personnel and medical institutions have reached an intolerable level."

It emphasized, "Violent acts in treatment sites including emergency rooms not only pose a serious threat to the lives of emergency patients but also, if medical staff including emergency medical workers are injured, it leads to a secondary serious interruption of emergency medical care where other emergency patients cannot receive emergency treatment, ultimately causing paralysis of emergency rooms and related facilities."

The association urged urgent structural support and legal amendments to enhance the effectiveness of crime deterrence. It called for active discussions on abolishing the crime of non-prosecution by the victim for perpetrators who assault or threaten medical personnel during treatment within medical institutions, and resolving the paradox where perpetrators must be treated and protected as patients.

The association said, "We strongly urge the government and political circles to immediately implement mediation measures and a long-term master plan to ensure that barbaric violent crimes no longer occur in public medical sites such as emergency rooms."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.